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The African Continental Free Trade Area, established in 2018, represented a monumental step forward for Africa in terms of meeting longstanding aspirations for greater economic and political integration. But it has nonetheless been met with scepticism in some quarters, both within the continent and beyond.

Borderless Africa makes the case for the AfCFTA in an accessible and compelling way, without shying away from technical and academic debates. Francis Mangeni and Andrew Mold take us on a journey through the different dimensions and implications of the AfCFTA, the largest free-trade zone in the world, starting with its underlying economic rationale. Pointing to the numerous historical examples of successful regional integration, they argue that the African continent will need to take on board such lessons as the agreement is implemented. They discuss, too, the more controversial elements of the AfCFTA, including the freedom of movement protocol, contending that this should not be seen as an optional extra, but as an intrinsic part of the accord.

Also exploring the role of external partners in the construction of an economically stronger, more united Africa, this fascinating study reveals how the AfCFTA is contributing to sustainable development across the continent.

Hurst Publishers

African Arguments Series

Borderless Africa: A Sceptic's Guide to the Continental Free Trade Area

Trade Makes States highlights how trade and the circulation of goods are central to Somali societies, economies and politics. Drawing on multi-site research from across East Africa’s Somali-inhabited economic space–which includes areas of Kenya, Djibouti, Uganda and Ethiopia–this volume highlights the interconnection between trade and state-building after state collapse. It scrutinises the ‘politics of circulation’ between competing public administrations, which seek to generate revenue and to control infrastructures along major trade corridors.

Connecting classic debates on state formation with recent scholarship on logistics and cross-border trading, Trade Makes States argues that the facilitation and capture of commodity flows have been instrumental in making and unmaking states across the Somali territories. Aspiring state-builders are thus confronted with the challenge of governing the flow of goods in order to rule over lands and peoples.

The contributors to this volume draw attention to the ingenuities of transnational Somali markets, which often appear to be self-governed. Their dynamism and everyday administration by a host of actors provide important insights into contemporary state formation on the margins of global supply-chain capitalism.

Trade Makes States: Governing the Greater Somali Economy

Justin Lynch

Alex de Waal

Willow Berridge

Raga Makawi

This book tells the story of the Sudanese revolution of 2019; of how it succeeded in bringing down the long-standing rule of President Omar al-Bashir; and of the troubled transitional civilian-led government that was installed in his place. It sets the scrupulously non-violent uprising in its historical context, showing how the protesters drew upon the precedents of earlier civic revolutions and adapted their practices to the challenges of the al-Bashir regime. The book also explores how that regime was brought to its knees through its inability to manage the intersecting economic and political crises caused by the secession of South Sudan and the loss of oil revenue, alongside the uncontrolled expansion of a sprawling security apparatus.

The civilian protesters called for-and expected-a total transformation of Sudanese politics, but they found themselves grappling with a still-dominant cabal of generals, who had powerful regional backers and a strong hold over the economy. Internally divided, and faced with a deepening economic crisis, the civilian government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has found itself in office, but with less and less real power, unable to change the conduct of political business as usual.

Sudan's Unfinished Democracy: The Promise and Betrayal of a People's Revolution